August 2014 Newsletter
What makes a good school is a feeling. A feeling shared by the entire community that their particular school is special…the feeling that their school really belongs to them. (Manna, 1999)
The start of a new school year is a time of joy and wonder and a bit of nervousness. Tuesday, September 2nd, will be my 27th “Opening Day” in Sandwich, and 29th in public school education, and I will still experience that nervous edge I felt on my very first day of school when I began my teaching career in Wyoming. As we begin the new school year in September, I hope you will share my sense of excitement, rejuvenation, and anticipation for what will be a tremendous year of growth for our students, families, and our staff.
This year the Wing School community will once again embrace one of our favorite mottos: “A Tradition of Excellence.” It will be a remarkable year as we honor the Wing’s past, live in the moment each day, and plan for the future as we reconfigure the schools.
I believe that our character, sense of pride, and positive relationships here at Wing are vital to the ultimate success we experience with our students, and our entire school community as we move forward through this school year. Although no list of character traits can be thoroughly exhaustive, I do hope that you will peruse a few offered below.
Be able to laugh (have a good sense of humor) and cry (display empathy and sensitivity).
Take time to help others.
Truly care about each other.
Remember how it felt to be a child.
Let’s focus on these as we embark upon this year’s journey together as “The Wing School Family”: caring for each other, and teaching our young people who need and crave our guidance! I look forward to working together as “The Wing School Family,” to do what is in the best interest of the children at our school each and every day.
This year the Wing School community will once again embrace one of our favorite mottos: “A Tradition of Excellence.” It will be a remarkable year as we honor the Wing’s past, live in the moment each day, and plan for the future as we reconfigure the schools.
I believe that our character, sense of pride, and positive relationships here at Wing are vital to the ultimate success we experience with our students, and our entire school community as we move forward through this school year. Although no list of character traits can be thoroughly exhaustive, I do hope that you will peruse a few offered below.
Be able to laugh (have a good sense of humor) and cry (display empathy and sensitivity).
Take time to help others.
Truly care about each other.
Remember how it felt to be a child.
Let’s focus on these as we embark upon this year’s journey together as “The Wing School Family”: caring for each other, and teaching our young people who need and crave our guidance! I look forward to working together as “The Wing School Family,” to do what is in the best interest of the children at our school each and every day.
The Wing School Celebration and Commemoration Corner
The Wing School Celebration and Commemoration Committee met over the summer. We will be looking for volunteers to participate in making this last year the best one yet. There will be a way to sign up and contribute to the organization of one or more of our signature events at Open House. Please click on the link to read a great online newspaper article. We were also featured in the Sandwich Enterprise, hard copy edition, last week. http://www.capenews.net/sandwich/wing_school_celebration_commemoration_events_in_planning_stage |
Bus Routes
The bus routes have been posted for the 2014-2015 school year. They should be appearing soon in the Sandwich Enterprise, but they are also available on our School and District Web pages. By clicking on "Bus Routes", you should be taken to the .pdf that lists the routes. If that link does not work for some reason, please go to www.sandwichk12.org and look under the "Quick Links" on the right hand side of the web page.
The list is organized by bus number.
The list is organized by bus number.
New Staff
With days to go we are still busy interviewing candidates for some open positions here at the Wing School. I am pleased to say that we have hired Ms. Sue Maciel to the one year position as a math intervention teacher. She is a terrific educator who has been teaching in a third grade classroom here at the Wing School. In her place for one year will be Mr. Fred Cowan a veteran staff member at our school. He also has several years of classroom teaching experience, and he is thrilled to be back in the classroom. Ms. Tuohy will be out for six weeks at the beginning of the year. In her place is the very capable and talented teacher, Ms. Amanda Gelson-Cavanaugh. She is excited to join the fourth grade team, and we are delighted that she has accepted the challenge. Ms. Jen Blackington is our new school nurse. She comes to us highly regarded by the Forestdale School staff where she has served as the part time nurse. We have hired Ms. Gretchen Phillips as our Librarian. She has a background in Literacy and looks forward to serving in this one year position. Ms. Jacquelyn Coulsey with be joining the Wing team as one of our Educational Support Personnel working primarily as a Leveled Literacy Instruction Ms. Betsy Nordman will be out for three months. Ms. Jennifer Strano, a well regarded Spinnaker staff member will serve as our part time integrated pre-school teachers and continue as an ABA Therapist. We still need some Educational Support Personnel and ABA Therapists to hire prior to the start of the school year.
School Day
The student "academic day" will be from 9-3:30 at the three K-6 schools. The doors for the school will open to greet all students at 8:45 and any student arriving after 9:00 will be considered tardy. The school day will end at 3:30 and we will begin dismissal procedures at 3:35 each day.
Please note that we do not have staff available before 8:45 to supervise students, therefore they will not be allowed inside the building. If you need extended day coverage for your child (before or after school), please contact Karen McCarthy at (508) 888- 8004.
Please note that we do not have staff available before 8:45 to supervise students, therefore they will not be allowed inside the building. If you need extended day coverage for your child (before or after school), please contact Karen McCarthy at (508) 888- 8004.
Open House
Open House is scheduled for September 15th at the Wing this year. More details will be coming home in a letter at the beginning of the year; however, I wanted to let everyone know that we will use the following format for that evening:
6:00-6:45 K-2 meet with teachers in classrooms
6:50-7:25 Everyone will meet in the gym with the principal
7:30-8:15 3-6 meet with teachers in classrooms
6:00-6:45 K-2 meet with teachers in classrooms
6:50-7:25 Everyone will meet in the gym with the principal
7:30-8:15 3-6 meet with teachers in classrooms
This Year's Schedule
This year all three K-6 Schools will operate on a 6-day schedule. Most of the effects of being on a 6 day schedule versus the Monday - Friday schedule we have been on in years past will pass unnoticed by families. However, there is one way that will affect you and your child regularly and that is on the schedule for specials.
Art, PE, Music and Library will be on the 6-day schedule. Therefore, each will not occur on the same day of the week each week. For example, your child may have Art on Day 2. In the first week of school, day 2 will be Wednesday, but by the third week Day 2 will occur on Thursday.
To assist with this we have created a calendar that shows the date along with what "Day #" it is. In the event of a snow day during the year, the day that is missed goes to the end of the school year and the calendar continues on, it will not need to be updated throughout the year. Please find that this 6-Day Cycle calendar above will come home with your child on the first day of school.
Here is the link to the 6-Day Schedule:
Art, PE, Music and Library will be on the 6-day schedule. Therefore, each will not occur on the same day of the week each week. For example, your child may have Art on Day 2. In the first week of school, day 2 will be Wednesday, but by the third week Day 2 will occur on Thursday.
To assist with this we have created a calendar that shows the date along with what "Day #" it is. In the event of a snow day during the year, the day that is missed goes to the end of the school year and the calendar continues on, it will not need to be updated throughout the year. Please find that this 6-Day Cycle calendar above will come home with your child on the first day of school.
Here is the link to the 6-Day Schedule:
- 6-day_schedule_new_dates.pdfDownload File
Spring Parent Conferences
Last Wednesday the School Committee voted to approve some small changes to the district calendar.
One change is the date of our Open House, the other affects all of the K-6 schools. As a result of the change of dates in the MCAS, we needed to adjust the dates for Spring Parent Conferences. The new dates for these conferences are April 7 and 8. Please be advised that both those days will be 1/2 days for students.
An updated version of the district calendar is now on the district web page.
One change is the date of our Open House, the other affects all of the K-6 schools. As a result of the change of dates in the MCAS, we needed to adjust the dates for Spring Parent Conferences. The new dates for these conferences are April 7 and 8. Please be advised that both those days will be 1/2 days for students.
An updated version of the district calendar is now on the district web page.